A software flaw in iPhones and iPads was identified by an expert on Apple device security that may enable hackers to build apps for secretly installing programmes to steal data, send text messages or destroy information.
Apple’s App Store failed to identify a malicious programme, a prototype that was built by Charlie Miller, a researcher with Accuvant Labs, to test the flaw, reported Reuters.
The test demonstrated the presence of a threat of real malware in the App Store, though no evidence was found to confirm that hackers have exploited the vulnerability in Apple’s iOS software.
Miller was quoted by Reuters as saying, "Until now you could just download everything from the App Store and not worry about it being malicious. Now you have no idea what an app might do."
To prove the point, a stock-market monitoring tool InstaStock was built by Miller. The tool was programmed to connect to his server once downloaded, and to then download whatever programme he wants.
